Press Release
December 10, 2009

Transcript of the Majority Leader's manifestation
on Koko Pimentel's media ad

Mr. President this morning while I was having my coffee, I was shocked to see ads in several newspapers by my fellow Mindanaoan, Koko Pimentel to have claim to have won his electoral protest process.

Mr. President to have won, first of all as a lawyer and a bar topnotcher at that he should know and understand the meaning of the word process. But before I tackle that I would like to inform the Senate and its members that we have been given a gag order by the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) to keep our mouth shut on the case under SET Resolution 0720 dated February 21, 2008.

Mr. President, of course with due respect to our Minority Leader, I hope he forgives me for this, but I have to defend myself. Mr. President so much that when Koko came out with the presscon and press releases several months ago, I was forced to answer the speculative remarks made by Mr. Pimentel.

We were both cited Mr. President, for the record, in contempt last October 22, 2009, under SET Resolution 0788, with very harsh language, and I will quote Mr. President. I was also cited because I had to defend myself Mr. President, but therefore this is the quote that was given by the Senate Electoral Tribunal - "The tribunal finds both protestant and counter-protestee Aquilino Pimentel III and Juan Miguel Zubiri guilty of contempt of the tribunal in violating the directive in the SET Resolution 0720, dated February 21, 2009. Not to discuss the merits of the instant electoral protest with the media. Protestant and counter-protestee is further found guilty of trying to influence, impede or compromise the tribunal in the resolution of the present electoral protest."

But Mr. President, it is obvious that Mr. Pimentel is again in violation of the contempt order by attacking me today and undermining my counter-protest in today's ads.

In the newspapers today it was quite blatant. It is meant to put undue pressure on the SET, and embarrass me as a duly elected senator of the Republic of the Philippines, and as Majority Leader of this honorable and historic institution.

Mr. President, I have no choice but to defend myself once again, and I beg the indulgence of my colleagues and the justices of this Senate Electoral Tribunal to allow me to do so.

I also appeal once again to the SET to answer the accusations made by Mr. Pimentel in these ads that attack my credibility, my integrity that I'm so careful to protect. All of you know me Mr. President, I have a open book. I try to keep my integrity and credibility intact at all times.

Mr. President, Mr. Pimentel fails to mention the results of my counter-protest of which our revisers have found as follows, and allow me to read this on record Mr. President, "These are spurious ballots, as well as written by one. In Makati we found 4,011 of those Mr. President. In Muntinlupa 1,892; in Las Pinas 1,667; in Paranaque 1,430; in Quezon City 6,432, just strengthening the accusations made by our former colleague of this chamber Sen. Coseteng, Nikki Coseteng, saying that when she ran in the last elections in her district she was completely aghast on the cheating that was happening there. In Caloocan Mr. President, 4,325; in Pasay City 1,888; in Pasig City 2,832; in San Juan 3,134; in Pateros 395; in Marikina 2,080; in Mandaluyong 3,344; in Manila 6,105; in Malabon 1,362; in Navotas 1,621; in Laguna 7,852. Nueva Ecija 7620; in Zamboanga City 2,347, Quezon Province 7,263; in Cavite 9,236; in Cagayan 3,101; in Ilocos Norte 2,290. Camarines Sur 2,726; in Palawan 2,403; in Bulacan 9,834; and in Batangas 8,549 with a total of 103,787, Mr. President. That is a significant number and if we are to follow his ad in the newspaper Mr. President, I had again recovered 30,000 votes over Mr. Pimentel.

Mr. President, I am not claiming that it is his fault, but the fault of the electoral syndicates operating during the elections. We were teammates Mr. President we knew very well. Mr. President, Sen. Arroyo is here, Sen. Angara is here we were teammates in Team unity and knew very well that one of our mistakes was to put watchers in opposition dominated areas because we were very worried about this particular incident happening.

How can we explain that several candidates were in the Statement of Votes (SOV), but were not in the ballots, as proven by the actual physical count made by the Senate Electoral Tribunal? How as well, Mr. President can we explain, that I gained several thousands of votes in the actual physical count that was not counted for me, Mr. President? And these are on the records of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Isn't that not clearly dagdag-bawas against me, Mr. President? Why is it if it is an administration candidates that wins it automatically gets the response ay nandaya iyan, nandaya sila. But when probable cause of electoral fraud happens in the opposition camps it becomes unbelievable, that it cannot happen.

Mr. President, several protests now are being overturned by the Comelec, and these are new members of the Comelec - they are men of integrity and credibility overturning wins in several provinces of opposition members. And now they're claiming dinadaya sila, pine-pressure sila ng palasyo.

Mr. President that clearly shows that there was cheating happening in all these areas. It is the process Mr. President that we are fighting for here. Let us open our eyes, the process is rotten. But Mr. President, in this chamber, the records will show that I fully supported the automated elections. That I fought for the implementation of automated elections. And even when I was in Congress, as a congressman, when we pass the automation law I fully supported it Mr. President. Because what we are trying to do is completely stop the syndicates that are operating in this country.

I even will make a challenge to Mr. Pimentel. The SET had recently given us 52 days to complete our 25 percent presentation of our counter-protest. We will not utilize that 52 days, we will cut short that by presenting forensic evidence on the cheating that was done to me Mr. President.

And with that I will appeal to the SET to make the decision because if there is probable cause that electoral fraud was committed against me, Mr. President. I have the right to know and open the ballot boxes even of NCR alone, so we will know the true and actual count of the member of this august chamber. That is my appeal Mr. President. And I put this on the record because I will have to answer the ads of Mr. Pimentel, and I request Mr. President that the SET does not charge me again for contempt because it's becoming to be very expensive on my part.

And with that I would like to leave that manifestation. I had to bring this out because we have to put this on record. I cannot stand by Mr. President and let my family suffer, while I suffer the false accusations being hurled against me.

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